Iced Earth

Iced Earth is an Americanheavy metal band from Tampa, Florida, that combines influences from thrash metal, power metal,
progressive metal, opera, speed metal and the New Wave of British Heavy Metal. Iced Earth
has been known to have a volatile and often changing line-up. Founding member, songwriter, and
rhythm guitarist Jon Schaffer is the only original
member who has remained, handling nearly all of the songwriting and leading the band. Former
vocalist Matt Barlow, and former lead guitarist
Randall Shawver are the next longest-tenured members.
They are the only people besides Schaffer to have spent a full decade in the band. Shawver, the
first lead guitarist to record with the band, joined in 1988 and remained until 1998. Barlow
joined in 1994 and remained until 2001, when he was inspired by the September 11, 2001 attacks in the U.S. to leave the band and become a law enforcement officer. However, he
returned to the group in late 2007, making his live return at the 2008 Chicago Powerfest. In 1999 Jon Schaffer teamed up with Blind Guardian vocalist Hansi Kürsch to form a side project called Demons & Wizards, and have released two albums to date. In 2010
Schaffer started another side project, Sons
of Liberty, which has been opening for Iced Earth on their current tour.